B10 V8, No. 388

[KennyP]

Mini meet up with Mr Ost and his newly acquired B10. Quite a few differences under the bonnet due to his being the facelift version with vanos etc. We are going to try a wee run up the hills if we can....oh and if he keeps it long enough.......

[KennyP]

Finally sorted the key phaff today. The car came with 2 x plipper remote keys. Both would open the car and power the car up from either the plip or the actual key but only one would start the car. The usual tricks didn't work leaving the indy stumped. A local key programmer guy came down and was stumped too.

Went to main dealer with the relevant docs and voila, 1 brand new programmed key that starts the car. It's the non-plipper type as they are now apparently NLA but since I already have 2 of these that doesn't matter, I have a spare that starts the bloody thing! The good news? The programmer wanted £100 but got nothing, BMW £66!

I still plan on trying to eventually programme the other one and there is a device on various places for about 13 quid that claims to be able to do this but no rush at the moment. The other good thing is all the locks/barrel/immobiliser must be as they left the factory or the new key wouldn't have worked which is good to know.

KennyP

[KennyP]

Many bugs gave themselves up on a trip out to visit the outlaws in the Trossachs yesterday. The Infinity polish and AG HD waxing it got a few weeks ago made cleaning off much easier

A quick toilet stop opposite David Stirling's memorial (for bairn no. 3) in a wee wooded copse seemed appropriate and I'm sure he would have approved. Even the fuel computer's lies of a reported 18.2 mpg were ignored as 99 supreme was burned through.

[hashluck]

Looking very nice indeed

[BarryM]

Car looking very shiny

[KennyP]

Cheers chaps, it' s a colour that responds well to some tlc with some nice pink, purple and blue flecks through it.

Been chasing the window whistle that came FOC with the car. It wasn't the knackered driver's door seal (a new one did quieten it down inside) and all the other glass seals seemed good. Other forums mentioned the door mirrors can be an issue so with a trip through to the other side of Perth during the week needed I applied some of sellotape's finest over the join between black mirror carcass and green casing. No whistle! It would usually arrive at around 70-ish and then get worse the faster you went along the private test track.....

Mr Amazon man has just delivered some clear silicon sealant as the tape didn't exactly look very err Alpina so tomorrows job is to expertly splurge some of that around the inside of the join and then put the mirror back together. Will it whistle....? Place your bets etc...

[ali]

Who is the Tayside independent garage you use ? I'm just down the road in Edinbugrh ?

[KennyP]

Hi Ali, name of the garage is Ashton Motors, his name is Gordon and he's been in the trade for donkeys years. He doesn't 'do' new stuff, think up to early 2000's and he is very much 'no frills' old school style. He is on 01382 622035.

KennyP

[KennyP]

Just to add, the clear silicone did the trick regard whistling door mirror noise. I left it taped up for 3 days to allow it to go off, wiped away any excess with some quick detailer and job done. It now remains quiet at various leptons so cheap fix

Cheers

[164 coupe]

Mini meet up with Mr Ost and his newly acquired B10. Quite a few differences under the bonnet due to his being the facelift version with vanos etc. We are going to try a wee run up the hills if we can....oh and if he keeps it long enough.......

I hope you managed that run up the hills Kenny!

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-detail ... 7rr&page=1

[KennyP]

He is a bandit. Some waffle about not having a V10 etc...I have messaged him asking if it's for spares or repair.... and have been trying to educate him about the world of TVR instead

KennyP

[KennyP]

Evening peeps, wee update on 388. Since purchase I had experienced a strange throttle response. At low speed (20/30 mph) when trying to apply very light progressive throttle I would get nothing....nothing then wallop. At highish revs on country road, down change for a bend, limit point opening up, power on, hesitation like a dead spot on the pedal, push through then POWER!!

Now since I have the old engine with old skool throttle cables I couldn't get my head around why there could be a delay. Intake had already been off, butterfly all clean etc. Then an epiphany! (only hurt a little), The TVR Cerbera (4.5 V8) I owned had throttle cables that operated 8 ITB's but each bank had a TPS as it ran as two fours due to the flat plane crank. Does a B10 have a TPS? Nope, it has 2 of them, one for the throttle pedal, the other for the cruise and DSC (as far as I can tell). Removed them both for part no.s and they are identical. Both were original BMW but of unknown age. Quick look on the net and Delphi for £28 seemed sensible**.

Originals were more like £70. Bought one to try and fitted today. What a difference! Much smoother on and off throttle, no delay onto gas when giving it some beans and wheels spin in 2nd and 3rd gears which was not 'a thing' before. Much more like it. I have already ordered a second one

**. auto doc have them at circa £13 but want £8.50 to post for an arrival at some point next year An awful lot cheaper than the MAF I was concerned about at £476......

Cheers

[KennyP]

Dry day, so fitted the 2nd new TPS and another tangible result with even better progressive throttle response allowing me to get the car up onto its toes in the twisties. Don't think the Continentals SC6's were enjoying it as much as me...

[KennyP]

As it was extremely mild at the end of October I left the remaining months tax on 388 just in case.... Should've known better, not been anywhere and the gritters are now out stopping any last minute drives. Heh-ho, tyres pumped up, battery on the c-tek, washed, dried, buffed, leather treated and cover on in the garage ready for spring...

Cheers

[KennyP]

Got impatient today and needed to remind myself how nice the old thing looks (the B10 not the missus... ). Nice bright sunny day so off with the cover. all levels good and it started first turn of the key

Having only driven either my own Fiesta ST (265 bhp from only 1.5 litres and 3 cylinders....) which is a cracking bit of kit and my wife's M135i which is equally fun in a whoa steady there sort of way it was fab just to take the B10 up and down the drive a little and get some heat through it.

The quality of it in weightings, leather, switchgear etc is just on another planet and brought home just how manufacturers have skimped on things over the last 10/15 years or so.

Currently planning some bits and bobs for it towards spring so will keep you posted!

Cheers,

KennyP